Structural unit



A. DE PFYFFER STRUCTURAL UNIT July 25, 1939.

Filed June 15, 1938 1/1 vr0/e Patented July 25, 193

- 6 Claims.

My invention relates generally to the building art and'more'particularly to a'structural-nnit especially designed for the production of all- -metal arches utilized in comparatively large 5- buildings; for instance, garages, airport hangars,

theaters, markets, or in fact any building where an exceptionally strong, durable, and inexpensive roof structure is desired.

The principal objects of my invention are, to

10 provide a structural unit from pressed sheet metal, each unit being provided with a plurality of parallel ribs and with marginal flanges so arranged and related as to utilize to the greatest advantage the strength of the metal from which 15 the unit is formed and further, to provide a construction whereby a plurality of the units may be arranged end to end with the end flanges in abutting relation and welded to each other so asto form continuous welded joints between said 20 flanges, thus eliminating the time, labor, and

expense incident to the conventional means such as bolts, nuts, and screws that are utilized in connecting fabricated arch forming units.

A further object of my invention is, to provide 25 a structural unit that may be conveniently and economically employed in the construction of a series of arches which, when arranged side by side with their side edges permanently secured to eachother preferably by welding, provide an 30 extremely strong and stable corrugated roof,

which provision provides for a speedy and economical erection of the roof by reason of the fact that there is no time wasted in plumbing the erected structure, no, pouring of concrete, no

35 laying of composition roofing, no time involved in the setting of nuts,vbolts, screws and the like and the complete structure being without .longitudinal expansion as result of heat inasmuch as the expansion is localized in each corrugation. 40 1 A further object of my invention is, to provide a building unit particularly designed for the production of roof structures that afford a marked increase of the safety factor 'due to the fact that the failure of one joint in the structure will have no effect upon the stability of the complete structure inasmuch as the adjacent units will always take up the additional load.

with the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in-certain novel features of construction andarran'gement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

.66 Fig. '1 is a side elevational view of a portion ,0! an arch composed of structural units as contemplatedby my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the uni Fig. 3 is a perspective view of three of [the units connected to each other as the same appear 5 in the formation of anarch.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the blank section of sheet metal that is utilized inthe construction of the units and showing the same as it appears before being bent to shape.

' The structural unit contemplated by my invention is formed either by pressing or rolling a single square or rectangular section of sheet metal to the desired shape. I

Between the sides of each unit the metal in the sheet is bent to form a plurality of substantially parallel ribs [0 and while I have shown the unit as having four of these ribs, it will be understood that the number of said ribsmay be increased or decreased as desired. Each rib comprises a-flat upper portion H from the sides of which depend diverging side walls I2 and to utilize the strength of the sheet metal to the best advantage, I prefer to form the downwardly diverging side walls l2 slightly wider than the flat upper sections ll.

At the sides of each unit the marginal portions of the sheet of metal are extended outward in a plane parallel with that occupied by that of the upper sections H to form narrow flanges II that project from the lower edges of the corresponding inclined walls l2 and the outer portions of these flanges are bent downwardly at right angles to form narrow flanges I4. The lower edges of the converging side walls [2 of' 'the ribs, between the two ribs at. the sides of 40 each unit, are connected by flat portions l5 that occupy a plane parallel with the plane occupied by the upper flat portions ii and the width-of these lower flat portions ii are approximately equal to the width of the upper flat portions il. 'At'both ends of the unit, the end portions of the metal forming the flat upper and lower sections II and ii are bent downwardly at right angles and the end portions of the inclined walls I! are bent inwardly and downwardly, thus forming on each end of the unit a continuous'flange l6 that occupies a position at right angles to the length of the unit.

As a result of the construction just described,

the flanges It at the ends of each unit abut the cent units and thus when a series of the units are assembled to form an arch as illustrated in Fig. 1, continuous transverse joints are formed between the ends of the units and these joints are integrally connected throughout their lengths by electric welding as designated by the numeral H in Fig. 5.

When a number of the arches produced by the proper assembly of a number .oi the structural units are arranged side by side to .form a roof structure, the continuous joints between the abutting side flanges ll are integrally united by electric welding. V

In order to produce an arch from the struc-- tural units, it is necessary to cut the ends of the sheet metal sections so that those portions forming the upper flat members ll of the ribs are slightly longer than those portions forming the flat lower portions l5 and thus when the sheets are cut to proper shape the ends of the portions of metal forming the walls I! ofthe ribs are slightly inclined with respect to the ends of the portions forming the flat upper and lower sections II and 15 (see Fig. 6).

As a result of this construction, the members in an assembled row of units occupy slightly inclined positions with respect to each other and which particular arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 1.

An especially desirable feature of my invention is the provision of the continuous end flanges [6 at both ends of each unit and the continuous -welding of the joints between the abutting flanges, for such construction adds materially to the stiifening of the ribs and consequently increases the strength or the completed structure so that the same is particularly eflicacious in resisting strains and stresses.

Among the advantages offered by my improved construction are, a homogeneous and well braced structure adaptable for use anywhere and particularly well suited to earthquake regions; a structure which is exceptionally well adapted to airport hangars, as any possible localized damage caused during war would not effect the stability of the structure due to the fact that the adjoining arches take up the additional load; a structure without longitudinal expansion as a result of heat inasmuch as the expansion is localized to each corrugation; a structure which requires minimum upkeep; a structure capable of being speedily erected due to the utilization of units spanning the full width of the building with no time wasted in plumbing the erected structure and no laying of roof, for by spraying the roof with good paintis all that is required.

Further, my improved structure requires no additional expense for architectural effects. The corrugations provide a very pleasing effect in the roof structure and if desired, insulation against heat and noise may be readily applied to the entire structure.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a structural unit that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of production and assembly and very eflective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved structural unit, may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

.of sheet metal having portions bent to form a series of spaced parallel ribs, having flat upper sections and flat sections connecting the lower portions of the sides or said ribs, said upper flat sections'having greater length than said lower flat sections, continuous marginal flanges Iormed on both ends of the unit 'and continuous marginal flanges formed on both sides or said unit.

3. A self-supporting building structure composed ot a series of units arranged end to end, each unit formed from a single piece of sheet metal having portions bent to form spaced parallel ribs having flat upper portions and flat sections connecting thelower portions of the sides of said ribs, said flat upper sections having greater length than the lower flat sections and continuous marginal flanges on the ends of said units, which flanges abut and are integrally connected to the corresponding flanges on the ends or the adjacent units.

4. A self-supporting building structure composed ot a series of units arranged end to end, each unit formed from a single piece of sheet metal having portions bent to form spaced parallel ribs having flat upper portions and flat sections connecting the lower portions of the sides of said ribs, said flat upper sections having greater length than the lower flat sections, continuous marginal flanges on the ends 01' said units, which flanges abut and are integrally connected to the corresponding flanges on the ends of the adjacent units and continuous marginal flanges on the allel ribs having flat upper portions and flat sec--v tions connecting the lower portions of the sides of said ribs, said flat upper sections having greater length than the lower flat sections, continuous flanges formed on the ends of each unit and the ribs formed thereon, which flanges abut and are secured by welding to the corresponding flanges on the ends of the adjacent units and'marginal flanges formed on'the sides of said units, which last mentioned flanges abut and are welded to the corresponding flanges on the sides of the units or adjacent building structures.

6. A self-supporting roof structure composed of a plurality of arches, each arch composed of a row of structural units arranged end to end,

each unit formed from a single piece of sheet metal having portions bent to form spaced parallel ribs having flat upper portions and flat sections connecting the lower portions 01' the sides of said ribs, said flat upper sections having greater lengththan the lower flat sections, flanges formed on the ends or each unit. which flanges abut' and are integrally secured to the end flanges of the next adjacent units and flanges on thesides of each unit,which flanges abut and are integrally secured to the flanges on the sides of the units in the next adjacent arches.

' ALBERT m: PFYFFER. 

